BC Greens leadership to take youthful turn, with contenders' average age of 30
VICTORIA -- Stuart Parker was 21 when he became the leader of the B.C. Greens in 1993 after campaigning against McDonald's use of ozone-damaging foam packaging.
Wolfgang Depner
While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Wolfgang Depner.
B.C. legislator shocked by American senator's 'nonsense' pitch to join U.S.
VICTORIA -- A British Columbia legislator says he went from "disappointed" to "enraged" after receiving a pitch from a Republican state senator for Canada's four western provinces to join the United States.
'Free Palestine' banner hung on B.C. legislature sets off probe of 'security breach'
VICTORIA -- A protest banner hung on the outside facade of the British Columbia legislature has set off a police probe and an investigation by the clerk's office into the "external security breach."
Prime Minister Mark Carney announces support measures for softwood lumber industry
Kelowna -- The federal government is setting up a safety net of loans, product-development grants and market diversification plans for Canada’s softwood lumber industry in an effort to shield it from the worst of American duties and fees.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announces support measures for softwood lumber industry
KELOWNA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is preparing financial supports for the forestry sector as the United States ratchets up duties on Canadian softwood lumber.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announces support measures for softwood lumber industry
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is preparing financial supports for the forestry sector as the United States ratchets up duties on Canadian softwood lumber. Carney is promising an aid package for the industry that includes $700 million in loan guarantees and $500 million for long-term supports to help companies diversify export markets and develop their products.
Carney toured Canadian Navy facility as B.C. visit continued Monday
Prime Minister Mark Carney continued his visit to British Columbia on Monday as he toured the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges facility on Vancouver Island. Wearing a navy blue suit, Carney visited the facility near Nanoose Bay, about 30 kilometres north of Nanaimo, for about 2 1/2 hours, during which he toured the Royal Canadian Navy vessel Sikanni...
Carney toured Canadian Navy facility as B.C. visit continued Monday
Nanoose Bay -- Prime Minister Mark Carney continued his visit to British Columbia on Monday as he toured the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges facility on Vancouver Island.
B.C.'s Jobs Minister Kahlon urges Canada to 'negotiate hard' over U.S. tariff raises
VICTORIA -- British Columbia's minister of jobs and economic growth is urging the federal government to stand firm and "negotiate hard" when trying to find a solution to 35 per cent tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's
Eby calls softwood lumber dispute "canary in the coal mine" of U.S. protectionism
VICTORIA -- Premier David Eby says the federal government cannot forget about the fate of British Columbia's softwood lumber industry as the deadline for a trade deal between the United States and Canada is hours away.
Seniors advocate says B.C. will need almost 16,000 new long-term care beds by 2036
VICTORIA -- A report from British Columbia's seniors' advocate say the province will need almost 16,000 new long-term care beds by 2036 to meet the demands of an aging society.
Drug body members quit, B.C. minister apologizes to family of girl with rare disease
VICTORIA -- Four members of British Columbia's Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases Committee have resigned after the government went against its recommendation and reinstated medication funding for a 10-year-old girl with a rare disease.
B.C. health minister apologizes to family of 10-year-old girl with rare disease
VICTORIA -- British Columbia Health Minister Josie Osborne is "sincerely apologizing" to the family of a 10-year-old girl on Vancouver Island with a rare disease after a public fight over the province's decision to cut off paying for her medication.
Mother of girl with rare disease says "nightmare is over" after B.C. restores funding
VICTORIA -- The mother of a 10-year-old Vancouver Island girl who has an extremely rare disease says the "nightmare is over" after the government restored funding for her daughter's drug for as long as she needs it.
B.C. seeks to claw back future ownership and breeding of exotic cats
VICTORIA -- The British Columbia government is proposing to ban the breeding, sale and future ownership of all exotic and non-domestic cats, including servals, ocelots and European wildcats.
B.C. boosts tax credit for developers of video games, virtual reality simulators
VICTORIA -- The British Columbia government is boosting a tax credit to help developers of video games such as Electronic Arts hire additional staff and invest money locally.
Big tent or small? John Rustad and the battle for the soul of the B.C. Conservatives
VICTORIA -- Dave Sharkey still remembers how he felt about the future of the Conservative Party of B.C. when he was part of the delegation that marched in the 2022 Aldergrove Christmas Light Up Parade.
Big tent or small? John Rustad and the battle for the soul of the B.C. Conservatives
VICTORIA -- Dave Sharkey still remembers how he felt about the future of the Conservative Party of B.C. when he was part of the delegation that marched in the 2022 Aldergrove Christmas Light Up Parade.
Big tent or small? John Rustad and the battle for the soul of the B.C. Conservatives
Dave Sharkey still remembers how he felt about the future of the Conservative Party of B.C. when he was part of the delegation that marched in the 2022 Aldergrove Christmas Light Up Parade. "There were only four of us," Sharkey said. "Two of us were holding the banner, and the other two were handing out candy canes. But the reception...
Victoria mayor announces $10 million on diverted spending for community safety
VICTORIA -- Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto says residents will see a difference in community safety within six months after announcing $10.35 million in funding for additional police and bylaw officers, temporary housing and the "huge task" of cleaning up parts of the city.
Federal bank loaning $1B for BC Ferries to buy Chinese-made ships
VICTORIA -- A federal Crown corporation is loaning BC Ferries $1 billion to help buy four Chinese-made ferries, a purchase that federal transport minister Chrystia Freeland recently said was dismaying and should involve no federal funds.
Rustad faces 'messy' summer over B.C. Conservative leadership: political expert
VICTORIA -- British Columbia's Conservative caucus members are meeting in Surrey today in what a political scientist says could be the start of a "messy" summer for party Leader John Rustad.
Rustad says staff won't give RCMP 'blackmail' statement as leadership vote begins
British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad says party staff who alleged they were being blackmailed do not want to provide a written statement to police who are assessing their claim. Rustad, whose leadership of the Opposition is under review in a months-long process that got underway last weekend, has faced questions over his handling of the allegations against a group...
Rustad says staff won't give RCMP 'blackmail' statement as leadership vote begins
VICTORIA -- British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad says party staff who alleged they were being blackmailed do not want to provide a written statement to police who are assessing their claim.
B.C. Conservatives start voting on Rustad's leadership in marathon six-month process
VICTORIA -- The Conservative Party of British Columbia has quietly begun voting on the leadership of John Rustad in a marathon process that could last about six months.
Canada Transport Minister Freeland 'dismayed' by BC Ferries deal with Chinese company
VICTORIA -- Canada's transport minister says she is "dismayed" BC Ferries contracted a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels in the current geopolitical context that includes "unjustified" tariffs on Canada.
Canada Transport Minister Freeland 'dismayed' by BC Ferries deal with Chinese company
VICTORIA -- Canada's transport minister says she is "dismayed" BC Ferries contracted a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels in the current geopolitical context that includes "unjustified" tariffs on Canada.
Canada Transport Minister Freeland 'dismayed' by BC Ferries deal with Chinese company
VICTORIA -- Canada's transport minister says she is "dismayed" BC Ferries contracted a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels in the current geopolitical context that includes "unjustified" tariffs on Canada.
B.C. Opposition Leader John Rustad accuses former Conservative MLAs of blackmail
VICTORIA -- British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad is accusing a group of legislators who split from the party of blackmailing its members and staff in a bid to take over and divide the Opposition.
'Let the chips fall': New B.C. party's leader vows to go where others won't
VICTORIA -- The interim leader of B.C.'s newest political party says it will raise issues other parties won't dare to touch.
Independent MLA Kealy doubts prospects of new B.C. party, but won't rule out joining
VICTORIA -- Independent British Columbia legislator Jordan Kealy says he isn't ruling out joining a new political party formed by two fellow former B.C. Conservatives, but he also questions their electoral prospects.
Business leader says BC Ferries' hiring of Chinese shipyard is 'informed decision'
VICTORIA -- A business leader on ferry-dependent Vancouver Island says BC Ferries made a "strongly informed decision" in hiring a Chinese shipyard to build four new major vessels.
B.C. targets U.S. doctors and nurses with recruitment ads near American hospitals
British Columbia has launched a six-week, $5-million campaign of targeted advertisements to recruit doctors and nurses in the United States.
B.C. First Nation builds small island, fisheries officials check for habitat damage
VICTORIA -- A British Columbia First Nation has built up a small artificial island in the tidal shallows of Coles Bay off Vancouver Island, triggering an investigation by fisheries officials into whether it involved habitat destruction and if authorization should have been required.
Eby says he won't be changing mind on another B.C. pipeline, rebuffing Ford
B.C. Premier David Eby says he won't be throwing his support behind a new oil pipeline through the province, dismissing Ontario Premier Doug Ford's suggestion that Eby would change his mind.
New law forces B.C. legislator to quit her 'part-time' job as municipal councillor
VICTORIA -- A B.C. Conservative legislator has lost what she called her "part-time" job as a councillor after a new law banning MLAs from also serving as municipal representatives came into effect.
New law forces MLA Misty van Popta to resign from the Township of Langley council
VICTORIA -- A B.C. Conservative legislator has lost her job as a councillor in the Fraser Valley as a new law banning MLAs from also serving as municipal representatives comes into effect.
B.C. Tories say NDP government should have fallen because of blurred Zoom screen
VICTORIA -- If it were up to B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad, British Columbians would have found themselves at the start of an election campaign Thursday -- because of a blurred Zoom screen.
As allies turn on B.C. NDP, house leader Farnworth celebrates 'great session'
VICTORIA -- Can a government have a "great session" if its flagship legislation draws condemnation from a coalition of historical allies?
Bill fast-tracking infrastructure projects passes as Speaker Raj Chouhan breaks tie
VICTORIA -- A controversial bill in British Columbia responding to American tariffs has passed with Speaker Raj Chouhan casting the deciding vote Wednesday evening.
B.C.'s chief electoral officer pushes against 'false narratives' in 2024 vote
VICTORIA -- British Columbia's chief electoral officer has issued a report he says pushes back against "false narratives" about the 2024 provincial election, as the Opposition BC Conservatives continue to call for an independent review.
Chorus of critics grows for B.C. fast-track bill as minister fails to soothe concerns
VICTORIA -- The chorus of voices against contentious British Columbia legislation to speed up infrastructure projects continues to swell, with the province's civil liberties association calling it a betrayal of the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Minister's bid to soothe concerns over B.C. fast-track bill is rejected
VICTORIA -- Contentious British Columbia legislation to speed up infrastructure projects is heading toward passage unchanged after a government amendment to improve consultation with First Nations failed.
B.C. Greens, NDP working constructively despite challenges, accord updates say
VICTORIA -- New Democrats in British Columbia under Premier David Eby and the provincial Greens say an agreement between the two parties has yielded challenges, but the two sides are committed to keep working with each other.
B.C. seen as 'final frontier' for federal NDP as leadership question looms
Kelowna resident and former federal NDP candidate Cade Desjarlais sees the party in "disarray." Desjarlais, who ran for the NDP in Kelowna-Lake Country in 2021 but voted for the successful Liberal candidate in the redrawn riding of Kelowna last month, said the NDP needed a working-class reset, a leader in that mould and a focus on British Columbia.